It’s easy to get stir crazy when winter settles and everyone takes a hiatus from fun until spring – and just as easy to stay on the couch in sweatpants with a cup of tea. But even after temperatures dip and days shorten, there’s plenty of nightlife and lots to do on the weekend in the Queen City.

Part of the appeal of summer nights in Charlotte derives from the bomb patios, decks, and biergartens that pepper many of Charlotte’s neighborhoods. However, some of your favorite spots are actually packed to the gills in winter with firepits and heaters, ensuring those epic cornhole battles and outdoor nights of summertime needn’t end. For a rousing weekend evening, we recommend making Fahrenheit, Sycamore Brewing, VBGB, or Craft Tasting Room and Growler Shop your next hangout spot. Just bring a jacket and order your favorite warming beverage.

Alternatively, cozy up to the tunes of Dizzie Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, or other legends with Jazz at the Bechtler. Visit the Bechtler on the first Friday of every month to catch concerts performed by the illustrious Ziad Jazz Quartet (and, of course, help support the cash bar). Need more jazz? Pop over to the upscale Blue Restaurant and Bar on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night for live performances and delicious food in a sophisticated setting.

For folks with a preference for hands-on activities, Science on the Rocks is a must-do. On the third Friday of every month, Discovery Place re-opens in the evenings for the big kids (21 and older). Alcohol flows generously alongside themed activities, performances, and games. January’s theme will be the wizarding world, so prepare to channel your inner Harry Potter through potions class, Quidditch beer pong, wand construction, and Butterbeer slushie samples.

To round out your weekend, spend Sunday night watching a Panthers game in Brevard Court. Brevard Court, with its warm brick and small businesses, offers precisely the Charlotte vibe that you want to be surrounded by when cheering on a local team. The bars in Brevard Court may not be as close to the game as Draught, but they’re still the next best thing to Bank of America Stadium.